The Thanksgiving Day Walk

Traditions are as much a part of the Thanksgiving day as the turkey and the cranberry sauce. If you grew up eating the meal at noon, then waiting until 3 pm can change your whole experience. If your in-laws prefer to sit around the table while you're used to watching the football game with your plate in your lap, some discussions may be in order prior to Thursday.

While for many the day means family, food, football and…more food, one tradition typical on Martha’s Vineyard is the Thanksgiving walk. Some prefer take this walk ahead of the meal, while the turkey is roasting away in the oven. Nothing quite works up a big appetite like a hearty walk on a November day. Others opt for the post-meal walk – perhaps to make room for pie. Whether or not you walk before or after the meal, there are a host of places you can walk – some of which are only accessible in the off-season.

According to Signe Benjamin, Operations and Membership Coordinator at Vineyard Conservation Society, “There are so many possibilities.”

Benjamin’s personal favorite winter beach is Lucy Vincent in Chilmark that is only open to Chilmark residents in the summer. However, Tim Carroll, Executive Secretary of the Town of Chilmark, reminds walkers, “if you take a right on the beach, or go past about a half mile to the left, technically you’re trespassing on private property.”

While there are some other places that are off limits, there’s no shortage of wonderful places to walk. “Pretty much everywhere in Aquinnah has free parking,” said Benjamin “and there are all the little trails along the where you park and walk through the woods to the beach.”

According to the Fourth Edition of the Vineyard Conservation Society’s Walking Trails of Martha's Vineyard, by William Flender, there is a new walk at Quansoo in Chilmark. After driving about 1.4 miles down Quansoo Road (and staying left at both the half mile fork and the Black Point fork), there is a trailhead that is open year round. There is also a second trailhead about .7 miles beyond the first on the left hand side, that is only open October through May.

If getting to the beach is not a priority, “Inland walks can be great. Waskosims is one of my favorites,” said Benjamin. And for working up an appetite, “Menemsha Hills and Peaked Hill are good because they actually have hills.”

For the kids, Benjamin recommends . “That’s sort of magical for kids because it’s got little bridges and rivers and it’s not too long.”

And for those Down-Island, “Along state beach can be really beautiful. It can be so crowded in the summer, but at this time of year it’s great if it’s not too windy. That bike path – you don’t get a bike path like that anywhere – with the water on both sides.” Also on Benjamin's list: Sepiessa Point Reservation, West Tisbury;  Caroline Tuthill Wildlife Preserve, Edgartown; Poucha Pond and Mytoi on Chappaquiddick and the Tisbury Meadow, Wompesket and Ripley's Field Preserves in Vineyard Haven.

Walking Trails of Martha’s Vineyard is available at many island locations, including , , , , , , , , and the Vineyard Conservation Society office.